Devices for launching and landing boats



y 24, 1955 SHIGEO NAGAISHI 2,709,084

DEVICES FOR LAUNCHING AND LANDING BOATS Filed July 26, 1954 F I G- 4: INVENTOR.

smeao NAGA-ISHI ATTORNEY l 2,70s,ss4 DEVECES FUR LAUNCHENG AND LANDIIIG BDATS fihigeo Nagaishl, Seattle, Wash. Application July 26, 1954, Serial No. 445,546 1 Claim. (Cl. 28047.32)

This invention relates to devices for launching and landing relatively small boats and to facilitate the operation of a propeller beneath the boat in relatively shallow water.

In the modern construction of motor boats, the tail boards or transoms thereof are frequently mounted on various angles from perpendicular to sloping forwardly or backwardly, and it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a ground wheel for supporting the stems of the boats by means of a post which may be easily attached or released from the transoms on various angles therewith and to always maintain the wheel beneath the stems of the boats.

A particular object is to provide a relatively light weight and economically formed device for easy and rapid connection to or removal from the transoms of boats either on shore or afloat, including a post for supporting the wheel beneath the stems and having a bracket for disposal beneath the stern of the boat and latch members for connecting the post to the transom. With these and other objects to be hereinafter stated, I have illustratively exemplified my invention by the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure l is side elevation View showing a boat with one device connected to the transom thereof and steadied manually. Figure 2 is a rear elevation view showing a pair of the devices connected to the transom of the boat, and broken lines to indicate position of an outboard motor and propeller. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the transom of a boat together with the device in associated relation therewith but disconnected from the transom. Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of portions of the transom and a post in section, with latching means for connecting the post to the boat. Fig" ure 5 is an enlarged detail of the stern portion of a boat showing another embodiment of the transom as B sloping rearwardly, with the device connected thereon.

Like characters on the different figures represent like parts.

The letter A indicates the side of the boat, and the letter B indicates the transom or perpendicular tailboard of the boat. The letter C indicates in broken lines any conventional outboard motor, with a propeller positioned beneath the stern of the boat, and the letter D indicates the device in general, by an arrow.

Numeral it) indicates a metal post of the device, which may be rectangular in cross section and is preferably tubular for lightness and rigidity and to provide a socket in its top, in which is slidably disposed a stub shaft 11 having holes 12 therethrough, for matching successively like holes 13 through the walls of the post. A holding pin 14 is disposed through the matching holes to support the shaft in varying position to conform loosely with the transom of boats of varying heights. A cap 15 is atiixed laterally to top of the shaft having a screw 16 vertically threaded therethrough, and a crank 16' is extended from the top of the screw for turning the same. A collar 17 is loosely disposed around the shaft and guides a clamp plate 18 in which the lower end of the screw is revolvably connected, for binding down exactly against the top rim 18 of the transom of any boat.

Suitably spaced beneath the clamp plate, a bracket 19 is extended from the post for supporting the bottom of the stern of the boat, which may be bound upon the same by pressure of the clamp plate and screw upon 2,709,084 Patented May 24, 1955 the rim 18. A cushion 19 on the top of the bracket equalizes the bearing of the bracket against boats having sloping transoms. In order to prevent the boat from sliding forwardly from the bracket, a mortise 20 is provided through the wall of the post, supplying a lip or catch 21 for retaining a hook or latch member 22. A check plate 23 is provided on the hook slightly spaced therefrom for bearing against the outer side of the transom, and a threaded bolt 24 is extended forwardly from the hook for disposal through the transom and may be locked thereto by a nut 25, over a washer 25 for bearing against the inner side of the transom.

A pair of jaws 26 and 27 are afiixed on the lower end of the post by a brace 30 or other suitable means, having their tops supporting the bottom of the bracket, and being spaced apart for retaining the ends of an axle 28, on which is rotatably mounted the ground Wheel 29.

In operation for launching or landing a boat, the stern of the boat is positioned upon the bracket and the hook inserted simultaneously into the mortise and over the lip. The crank and screw are then turned and the clamp plate depressed against the rim 18 of the transom whereby the hook is latched down over the lip and the bottom of the boat bound against the brackets completing the attachment of the post to and across the transom on any angle thereof. The wheel beneath the stern of the boat facilitates launching or landing thereof and prevents any propeller from dragging on the ground and also facilitates use of the propeller in shallow water. To release or unship the device, the operator retracts the screw and clamp from the rim of the transom, and the post then drops and releases the hook from the lip and the bracket from the boat. The device may be then stored in the boat for use in landing. The attaching or release of the device may be easily efl'ected by one man either on shore or afloat. While I have described one of the devices, preferably a pair thereof should be applied for operation.

Having described my invention, I claim as new for Letters Patent:

A portable device for launching and landing boats, comprising a post for removable connection vertically across the transom of boats having a single ground wheel revolvably mounted at the foot of the post for use in launching and landing the boats and for the dual purpose of supporting the boat in spaced relation above a beach and to facilitate operation of a propeller beneath the boat in shallow water, a bracket extended forwardly from the post above the wheel for supporting the stern of a boat thereon, said post provided with a mortise and lip above the bracket for cooperation with a hook, a hook for latching over the lip to prevent the boat from sliding forwardly from the bracket, means for attaching the hook to the transom, a stub shaft slidably disposed in the top of the post, means for connecting the shaft and post in various positions for use with transoins of varying heights, a lateral cap on top of the post, a power screw vertically and operatively disposed through the cap, a collar slidably disposed around the shaft having a clamp plate on the forward side thereof beneath the screw, a crank for turning the screw to depress the plate against the tops of transoms of boats and to bind the stems of the boats on the bracket and for the dual purpose of binding the hook over the lip for latching the post upon transoms having varying angles and maintaining the wheel beneath the stern of the boat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,422,930 Rutledge June 24, 1947 2,424,641 Swanson July 29, 1947 2,551,040 Newell May 1, 1951 2,632,655 King et a1. Mar. 24, 1953 2,637,050 Oliver May 5, 1953 

